(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – President Maithripala Sirisena left for Indonesia this morning with a four member delegation on an invitation extended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
President Widodo invited President Sirisena for a state visit after his scheduled participation at the Indian Ocean Rim Association Summit to be held in Jakarta.
The President’s Media Division said President Maithripala Sirisena will attend the IORA Summit today and tomorrow and subsequently engage in a state visit of Indonesia on Wednesday.
The letter of invitation was delivered by the Indonesian President’s special envoy Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs AM Fachir earlier last month.
Speaking at the time President Sirisena said he was looking forward to attending the summit and to meet Indonesian President Widodo for discussions on furthering bilateral friendship and cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and other areas of common interest.
President Sirisena also recalled the strong ties between the two countries, stating Indonesia played an invaluable role at the Non-Aligned Summit of 1976 hosted by Former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
During the visit Sri Lanka and Indonesia are expected to sign two bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
An MoU between the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka on marine and fisheries cooperation and another MoU between the Marketing Service Agency for the Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives of Indonesia and the National Craft Council of Sri Lanka on traditional industrial cooperation will be signed.
